Rumassala shipwreck being removed

BY D.G.SUGATHAPALA AND SUMATHIPALA DEEYAGAHAGE

The wreckage of a ship which hit the coral reef in the sea at the foot of the Rumassala hill in Unawatuna in Galle is now being cut into pieces and removed as junk. The ship which belonged to an Indian company had been at anchor outside the Galle harbour after unloading its cargo which was a stock of chemicals brought for the Galle Cement Company.

A stock of 22tons of oil on board the ship had also been drained by a private company under the supervision of the Marine Pollution Preventing Authority and dispatched to the company’s refinery in Puttalam. The ship had been entrusted to the Director of Merchant Ships and placed under guard to prevent any unauthorized entry. A private company has undertaken the cutting up and removal of the wreckage as junk on the recommendation of the Wildlife Conservation Department and the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority.